Yoga

"Dear Yoga practitioners

Thank you for your support of the Saturday yoga class. I am going to be to and fro to York in May and June working on ‘Macbeth’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with York Theatre Royal and Lunchbox theatre company. Because of this I have decided to suspend the yoga class until the Autumn. I would also like to find a more appropriate room to teach it in. We will be in touch with you over the summer to let you know where and when the class will be. Thank you for your patience.

A typical class begins with pranayama exercises. After warming up with sun salutations, - Surya Namaskar - the focus is on mastery of the twelve basic poses:

1. Headstand - Sirsasana

2. Shoulderstand- Sarvangasana

3. Plow- Halasana

4. Fish- Matsyasana

5. Seated Forward Bend- Paschimottanasana

6. Cobra - Bhujangasana

7. Locust- Salabhasana

8. Bow– Dhanurasana

9. Seated Spinal Twist– Ardha Matsyendrasana

10. Crow - Bakasana

11. Standing Forward Bend- Uttanasana

12. Triangle- Trikonansa

Savasana closes the class. The 12 basic poses were carefully selected and include inversions, backbends, forward bends, twists, balances, and hamstring stretches. At little of everything, in other words. The poses are ideally done slowly and with control to stretch and strengthen the body as well as open the chakras. As students become proficient in the 12 basic poses, variations may be introduced.